Clip device for adjustment of suspended ceilings,and ceiling incorporating the same



April 28, 1970 T. SETTANNI 3,508,302

CLIP DEVICE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF SUSPENDED CEILING'S, AND- CEILING'INCORPORATING THE SAME Filed July 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 roam/5Y5]Apr]! 28, 1970 T. R. SETTANNI 3,508,302

CLIP DEVICE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF SUSPENDED CEILINGS, AND

' CEILING INCORPORATING THE SAME Filed July 5, 1968 2 Sheets$heet 2INVENTOR. TA EODOBE P. .557'74/V/V/ United States Patent CLIP DEVICE FORAD JUSTMENT 0F SUSPENDED CEILIN GS, AND CEILING INCORPORATIN G THE SAMETheodore R. Settanni, 1422 S. Hesperian, Santa Ana, Calif. 92704 FiledJuly 3, 1968, Ser. No. 742,208 Int. Cl. A44b 21/00; E04g 17/18; E04b7/14 US. Cl. 2471.2 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clipcomprising spaced and paralley face portions integrally connected toeach other at one set of corresponding edges. Socket means are providedon the clip to permit insertion of the end of a screwdriver for turningof the clip (about a horizontal axis) and consequent bending andshortening of a ceiling-suspended wire disposed between the faceportions. A substantial number of corresponding apertures are providedin the face portions for reception of nails or the like, the arrangementbeing such that different degrees of shortening may be achieved. Theinvention further comprises the combination of the clip with a ceilingconstruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention relatesto the filed of ceilings which are suspended by means of wires frombeams or other supporting structures.

Description of the prior art Acoustical ceilings and the like areconventionally suspended by means of realtively thick metal wires fromsupporting structures such as wooden beams, etc. More specifically, thewires are connected to T-sectioned elements adapted to support the edgeportions of acoustical panels, the connections being conventionallyeffected by wrapping the end of the wire after inserting the samethrough a hole in the stem of the T. It frequently occurs that afterpassage of a period of time, for example about six months, warping ofthe beam causes the suspended ceiling to sag in a wavy and irregularmanner. It is therefore necessary to shorten numerous suspension wiresby different desired amounts adapted to make the ceiling again level.conventionally, this was done by unwrapping the lower end of the wire,tightening the wire, and then rewrapping the end. Since the wire isnormally thick and thus hard to bend, this was a laborious operation.Furthermore, it was difiicult to judge the degree of leveling effected,and this frequently necessitated repeating the operation several timesfor each wire.

The prior art contains numerous examples of wireshortening devices, forexamples those shown in Patents 515,340; 638,298; 973,034; 1,982,444;2,589,543; 2,648,- 109 and 2,741,818. However none of these wassufilciently simply and economical to be permanently incorporated in awire adapted to suspend an acoustical ceiling or the like. Furthermorenone permitted the shortening to be achieved in a very simple mannerwhich is readily gauged or judged, and which utilizes a simple hand toolsuch as a screwdriver in order to provide the necessary rotation withvery little effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,spaced and parallel face plates may be formed of extremely economicalmaterial such as galvanized iron or steel, the plates being connectedtogether at one set of corresponding edges.

The web which connetcs the face portions together forms one part of asocket to receive the end of a screwdriver or the like, whichscrewdriver then readily effects turning or rotation of the device inorder to shorten the ceiling-suspending wire. The remainder of thesocket may be formed in an economical manner as by inserting a nailthrough holes provided adjacent the web. The clip further comprisescorresponding holes in the face portions to receive nails or the like,the relationship being such that different desired degrees of shorteningof the wire may be achieved in a rapid, economical, and relativelyeffortless manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a view showing the presentceiling assembly incorporating the wire-shortening clip;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the clip;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation thereof, 'illustrating its generallyhairpin-shaped section;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view illustarting the clip in position around aceiling-suspending wire, preparatory to turning of the clip in order toshorten the wire a desired amount;

FIGURE 5 illustrates the position of the parts after shortening is fullyeffected, the screwdriver tip being shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 5 but illustrating theoperation of the device when a greater degree of shortening desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The ceiling-adjusting clip 10 ofthe present invention is preferably formed of sheet metal, for examplegalvanized iron or steel, although it may be formed of plastic or othermaterials. It is illustrated to comprise an elongated rectangularstrap-like metal member which is bent at its center to provide ahairpin-like shape (FIGURE 3). Thus, spaced and parallel face portions11 and 12 are provided and are connected by an integral web 13 whichextends between corresponding edges of the face portions. The faceportions 11 and 12 correspond exactly to each other, and contain holeswhich also correspond exactly to each other. Thus, only the front face11 is illustrated in the drawings, it being understood that the rearface 12 is identical thereto realtive to configuration, hole size, andhole location.

The spacing between face portions 11 and 12 is sufficient to permitreception therebetween of a relatively large-diameter metal wire 15 ofthe type frequently employed to support acoustical ceilings and thelike. Such wire is normally formed as a single strand of extruded metal.Thus, it is relatively difficult to bend, and normallyretains its setonce bent. It is pointed out that acoustical ceilings may be relativelyheavy, one reason being that they frequently support light fixtures,air-conditioning fixtures, etc.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a wire 15 is suitably connected to a screw-eye 16which is threaded into a wooden beam 17 forming part of the building inwhich the ceiling is mounted. At its lower end, wire 15 is extendedthrough a hole in the stem portion 18 of a T-sectioned supportingelement 19, the element 19 having cross-arm portions 20 on which theedges 21 of acoustical ceiling panels 22 are adapted to rest. Therealtively stiff end of the wire 15 is wrapped about itself throughseveral turns, as indicated at 23, in order to connect the wire to thestem 18. It is this joint at 23 which is difficult to unwind and re-formin order to cause the ceiling panels 22 to be level despite the factthat the beam 17 frequently sags after the installation has been inplace for a number of months.

Means are provided on the clip 10 to form a socket for reception of asmall hand tool of a type normally carried by workmen. Such tool may bea scewdriver, the tip of which is indicated in phantom at 25 in FIGURES5 and 6. The socket-forming means comprises a portion 13a at one end ofthe web 13, and a cooperating nail 26 which is inserted throughcorresponding holes 27 formed in face portions 11 and 12. Morespecifically, the nail 26 and the holes 27 are located adjacent theupper edges of face portions 11 and 12, and spaced sufliciently far awayfrom web portion 13a to permit reception of the screwdriver tip 25 asillustrated.

It is pointed out that the nail 26 may be left in place after completionof the ceiling adjustment operation, or it may (if desired) be removedand reused in another clip 10. The nail 26 may be eliminated andreplaced by suitably dimpded (or otherwise formed) portions of the faceplates 11 and 12.

Second and third nails 28 and 29 are extended through holes 30 and 31,respectively, formed in face ortions 11 and 12. Such nails 28 and 29comprise the main bending nails since they create a couple and bearagainst opposite sides of wire 15 in response to turning of the clipabout a horizontal axis, by means of the screwdriver, thus providing abend in the Wire in order to shorten the same as desired. The nail 28and the holes 30 therefor are located adjacent the lower edges of faceportions 11 and 12 and also relatively adjacent the web 13. However,such location is not sufficiently close to web 13 that the latter mayengage and tend to cut the wire.

The nail 29 and its associated holes 31 are located generally betweenthe holes 27 and 30 (nails 26 and 28), being relatively adjacent web 13but preferably spaced farther therefrom than are the nails 26 and 28.Also, nail 29 (and holes 31) are relatively close to nail 26. The nail29 and its holes 31 are preferably located in off-center relationshiprelative to arcuately-arranged locking holes which permit wire-lockingfunctions and which will next be described. This permits relativelylarge amounts of kinking of the wire when certain locking holes areemployed, and smaller amounts when others are employed.

Provided in generally arcuate arrangement about the face portions 11 and12 are locking holes 32-43 adapted selectively to receive a locking pinor nail 44. The end holes 32 are adjacent the upper edges of faceportions 11 and 12, wheras the other end holes 43 are relativelyadjacent the lower edges of such face portions. The central holes 35-39are relatively adjacent the clip edges which are opposite web 13.

If desired, screws or the like may be employed instead of theillustrated nails. However, it has been found that nails are highlysatisfactory and economical, and that they do not vibrate out ofposition since the tension of the Wire 15 tends to locks the nails inplace.

OPERATION Let it be assumed that deflection of beam 17 (FIG- URE 1) haslowered the T-sectioned support element 19 until the acoustical panels22 sag in an undesired manner. It is then merely necessary for anoperator to insert nails 26 and 28 through holes 27 and 30, and thenmove the sheet metal clip to such position that the wire is straddled asillustrated in FIGURE 4. Thereafter, nail 29 is inserted through holes31, and the screwdriver tip is inserted into the socket formed by theelements 13a and 26. As shown in FIGURE 5, the screwdriver is preferablyoriented in such manner that one edge of the tip bears against the shankof nail 26, whereas the base portion of the opposite edge of the tipbears against the end 13a of web 13.

It is then merely necessary for an operator grasping the handle of thescrewdriver to move the same downwardly in the manner of a crank andthus effect rotation (or torqueing) of the clip about a horizontal axisuntil the nails 28 and 29 form bends in the Wire 15. Such rotation iscontinued until the resulting shortening of the wire 15 elevates thesupport 19 and thus causes the ceiling panels 22 to be in the levelposition desired (or slightly above such level positionto compensate forthe reverse bending indicated below).

The operator continues to hold the screwdriver handle and thus maintainthe requisite bends in the wire adjacent nails 28 and 29, the portion ofthe wire above nail 29 then passing near one of the sets of holes 32-43(depending upon the degree of bending of the wire). The operator theninserts the locking nail 44 through the hole set which is adjacent thewire, and is also between the wire and the screwdriver, for example thehole set 35 as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 5.

Thereafter, the operator releases the pressure on the screwdriver andwithdraws the screwdriver from the socket. The weight of the ceilingnormally causes clip rotation in the reverse direction until anadditional bend is formed in the wire around the locking nail 44. Thethree nails 28, 29 and 44 thus form a permanent kink in the wire and,furthermore, are themselves held in posi tion (against longitudinaldisplacement due to vibration or other factors) due to the pressure(resulting from the weight of the ceiling) exerted by the wire againstthe shanks of the nails. If the ceiling weight is relatively small atthe wire being shortened, it may be necessary to pull downwardly on thelower wire portion in order to form the bend around nail 44.

The operation is then repeated at other Wires in the ceilingconstruction, namely at all regions where sagging has ocurred. As shownin FIGURE 6, a wire 15a is provided at a ceiling portion wherein thedegree of sagging has been relatively extreme. The amount of turningeffected by the screwdriver is then caused to be much greater, and thelocking nail 44 is inserted through a hole set 40 relatively adjacentthe bottom edges of the face portions 11 and 12. It follows that thekink formed in the wire is much larger than in the situation shown inFIG- URE 5, so that the amount of raising of the support 19 andassociated ceiling elements 22 is greater.

The holes 31 (and nail 29 contained therein) are off center, as abovestated, being relatively close to holes 27. Stated otherwise, holes 31are closer to holes 27 (nail 26) than is the center of the arcuate rowformed by holes 32-43. This permits formation of large kinks (FIGURE 6)in order to raise the associated ceiling portion a substantial amount.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A clip device for adjustment of suspendedceilings, which comprises:

first and second spaced and substantially parallel face elements,

one edge of said first element being fixedly connected to thecorresponding edge of said second face element, means of said faceelements to form a socket adapted to receive the tip of a hand tool,first bearing means provided on said face elements for bearingengagement with a ceiling-suspending wire, second bearing means providedon said face elements for bearing engagement with said wire,

said second bearing means being spaced from said first bearing means,and locking means provided on said face elements for bearing engagementwith said wire after rotation of said connected face elements by saidhand tool,

said locking means cooperating with said first and second bearing meansto form a kink in said wire and thus shorten the same. 2. The inventionas claimed in claim 1, in which said face elements are spaced apart by adistance at least equal to the diameter of said wire, and in which saidcorresponding edges of said face elements are connected to each other bymeans of an integral web.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said socket-formingmeans comprises one end of said web, and also comprises an elongatedelement inserted through holes provided in said face elements adjacentcorresponding edges of said face elements and in spaced relationshipfrom said web end, the spacing between said web end and said elongatedelement being sufficient to receive the end of a screwdriver or thelike.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which said first bearingmeans comprises an elongated element extended through correspondingholes which are provided in said face elements adjacent correspondingedge portions thereof and near the end of said web which is remote fromsaid one end thereof.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 4, in which said second bearingmeans comprises an elongated element extended through holes which areprovided in the central regions of said face elements.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said locking meanscomprises a generally arcuately-arranged row of openings provided insaid face elements and adapted selectively to receive an elongatedbearing element, the opening in which said bearing element is receiveddepending upon the degree of rotation of said face elements in orderthat the size of said kink may be varied.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said second bearingmeans in disposed in off-center relationship relative to saidarcuately-arranged row of openings.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said face elementscomprise pieces of sheet metal correspond ing edges of which areconnected to each other by means of an integral web, in which said firstand second bearing means and said locking means comprise nails insertedthrough openings in said face elements, and in which said socket-formingmeans comprises a nail inserted through holes in said face elementsrelatively adjacent one end of said Web, the spacing between saidlast-mentioned nail and said one web end being sufiicient to re ceivethe tip of a screwdriver or the like.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said locking meanscomprises a substantial number of holes spaced from said second bearingmeans and adapted selectively to receive a nail, said holes forming saidlocking means being generally arcuately arranged.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said second bearingmeans is off center relative to the arcuatelyarranged holes forming saidlocking means, being closer to said one web end than is the center ofthe are formed by said arcuately-arranged holes.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said clip device isprovided in combination with said wire in a ceiling construction whichis suspended from a support in a building, said ceiling constructionfurther comprising support means adapted to support edge portions ofacoustical panels or the like.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STEPHEN J. NOVOSAD, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

